American Muscle in a Bookshelf Body: Martin Logan Motion 35XTi Review

The American brand Martin Logan’s Motion 35XTi bookshelf speakers have always interested me because I wanted to know what would happen if I essentially sawed their floorstanding models in half. I have already listened to the floorstanders from this Motion series: the flagship 60XTi and the 40i, which were more suitable for my room. Those floorstanders have a facade where the HF/MF sections are separated by a decorative strip with a logo, below which the LF drivers sit.

Those speakers have a distinct character, demonstrating the ability to control a massive low-frequency flow. But it seemed unlikely such a trick would be possible with bookshelf speakers, if only because the 35XTi lacks that sheer cabinet volume.

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The front of today’s bookshelf speakers strongly hints that Martin Logan simply took the 40i and removed the entire low-frequency section. On the one hand, this seems true because the drivers here are very similar. But on the other hand, it can’t be that simple, right?

This “stripped-down” cabinet retains all the features of the older models in the Motion series: a robust, high-quality cabinet finished with natural veneer, a facade with a massive aluminum panel, similar drivers, dual terminals for bi-wiring, and a huge bass reflex port at the back.

At the bottom is a 6.5″ (16.5 cm) mid-bass driver with an aluminum cone and a molded polypropylene basket, very close to the midrange driver found in the 40i. However, in the floorstander, that driver works exclusively as a midrange driver and is loaded in a closed chamber. Here, the mid-bass driver works in a non-resonant asymmetric chamber with a rear port and covers the full range from 50 to 2200 Hz.

The HF section is powered by their signature Folded Motion XT transducer. It has a large membrane area, lightning-fast response, and unprecedentedly low levels of distortion, covering everything from 2200 to 25,000 Hz. Martin Logan, perhaps more than anyone else, is a master when it comes to thin-film transducers.

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From the back, these bookshelf speakers look completely immodest. The large reflex port and powerful terminals look impressive, perhaps even a little over-engineered. It looks like a small speaker from the front, but there is serious “fat” right behind it, which is cool; there is a real American style to it.

The only thing that discouraged me was the completely simple metal jumpers on the terminals. Not even gilded, just plain metal! This is somewhat insulting for an audiophile because these are not just cinema speakers, but truly musical ones. I just want to shout: “Hey Yankees, what are you doing skimping on the gold plating for us audiophiles? Just give us that gilding and oxygen-free copper, otherwise, the sound just isn’t right!” They screwed up there, and I don’t know if I can forgive them for it.

As for the sound, there is a surprise: these bookshelves sound with that same characteristic pressure, sometimes giving out unimaginable weight and scale at low frequencies, just like floor-standing speakers. But this happens selectively; if floorstanders generally “inspire” all the time, the bookshelves are much more delicate in most situations, which actually makes them more interesting.

Yes, they won’t have that punch that caves in your chest, so they are perhaps safer for sensitive listeners. The “35s” turn out to be quite intelligent; they seem more subordinate to demonstrating the beauty of details and textures rather than unbridled power.

Although it’s not that simple with power, either. On tracks with a strong low-frequency component, like Andrew Bird’s “Sisyphus,” the 35XTi easily shows a big, massive drum and a fat, confident bass guitar. At the same time, the vocals remain light, airy, and very open, with an abundance of detail and a clearly defined space.

In general, an “open” nature of sound defines them; they literally breathe music. These small Motions do an excellent job of drawing a large volume, bringing the vocalist close enough to you (but not right under your nose), and the soundstage easily diverges in breadth without constraint, sometimes extending far deep beyond the speakers.

These compact speakers perform with such drama and I would even say some pathos, that they can draw an intro appearing from deep in the background, and then, with a sharp wave of a guitar, you are simply washed off the couch along with your skepticism that “there are good speakers, and then there are standard bookshelves.” Very emotional, very driving!

Verdict

These are versatile, capable speakers that won’t be too demanding on your amp. They are not fatiguing at all; you can listen to them for a long time, they will not take up much space, and they won’t empty your pocket too much.

Pros And Cons:

Pros:

Build Quality
High-Frequency Performance
Surprising Bass
Balanced Sound
SoundstageEngaging Character

Cons:

Plain metal jumpers

Martin Logan Motion 35XTi Specifications

Drivers: Folded Motion® XT tweeter (≈ 1.25″ × 2.4″ / 3.2 cm × 6.1 cm) + 6.5″ (16.5 cm) aluminum-cone woofer.
Frequency Response: 50 Hz – 25 kHz (±3 dB)
Sensitivity: 92 dB @ 2.83 V/1 m
Nominal Impedance: 4 Ω (compatible with 4, 6, or 8 Ω rated amplifiers)
Recommended Amplifier Power: 20–250 W
Cabinet: Bass-reflex (rear-firing port)
Bi-wiring / Bi-amping Capability: Yes (dual five-way binding posts)
Dimensions (H × W × D): Approximately 13.5″ × 7.6″ × 11.8″ (34.3 cm × 19.2 cm × 30 cm)
Weight: ~18.5 lbs (8.4 kg)
Available Finishes: Gloss Black, Matte White, Red Walnut (and others depending on region)